So I'm pretty sure this board won't get much traffic being that our population is pretty small compared to everyone elce...but,I just wanted to say hello!. My name is Pam and Im up at EIelson AFB. I have a surgery date of May 26 and heading down to Anchorage next week! Looking forward to hearing from anyone! lol

So I'm pretty sure this board won't get much traffic being that our population is pretty small compared to everyone elce...but,I just wanted to say hello!. My name is Pam and Im up at EIelson AFB. I have a surgery date of May 26 and heading down to Anchorage next week! Looking forward to hearing from anyone! lol

Are you doing Lapband? (Trying to figure out if Tricare really is covering it again, I looked into it a year or so ago and the doc at Ft. WW said he thought so, but wasn't sure)

I'm not familiar, do you guys have docs on Eielson or do you come to WW for care? I'd like to use a PCM that doesn't take forever about referring you.

Thanks for any assistance :-)

We have our own clinic down here on Eielson. I was referred by my PCM from Eielson to the WLS. Yes,Tricare is currently paying for Lap band and Gastric Bypass. Some MTF's cover the gastric sleve,but that is only if there is a dr. at Ft.WW that does them. (Which there is not currently). But they pay for you to go down there,lodging,rental cars...not that big of a deal....let me know if you have any questions...oh,some of the pre op stuff is done at Bassett.

Hi girls I had my band done in Mexico-- Dr. Todd wouldn't do it because my BMI was too low for him. It cost 6,500 and TJ has a wonderful hospital and set up. I live in Wasilla so I'm getting my fills from Larry Walters at Dr. Woods. It's working. Slowly but surely. I've only lost 28 pounds since Dec. but thats alright_ I'm happy

Edited June 22, 200917 yr by Vickie
wrong#

Hi girls I had my band done in Mexico-- Dr. Todd wouldn't do it because my BMI was too low for him. It cost 6,500 and TJ has a wonderful hospital and set up. I live in Wasilla so I'm getting my fills from Larry Walters at Dr. Woods. It's working. Slowly but surely. I've only lost 28 pounds since Dec. but thats alright_ I'm happy

Way to go! 28 lbs is great! I thought about going to Mexico if I couldn't get Triwest to pay for my Lap Band. They first rejected my authorization, but I did an appeal & it is now approved. I'm having Dr. Searles do the band on 8-25-09 (after dipnetting for the Kenai fish in July, of course!). Let us know how you are doing in your weight loss journey!

Tammy

Best of luck to you! I adored Dr.Searles and his work! I feel awesome and down 26.6 lbs in the almost 4 weeks since surgery! I can handle that! He placed my incisions in great spots (no jean or bra rubbing spots..lol) and all around good guy!

Hey, I am new to this, and I live in southeast alaska, how did you get started doing all this? and is there a doctor who can do it in anchorage? i would rather not have to fly down south, but will if I have to...

any help?!?!??

Dear Couramour: Dr. Grant Searles is in Anchorage, also Dr. Todd is in Anchorage.

The journey is lots of paper work and persistants. If some doors are slammed keep trying tell you get one to open one for you. Your health and body will thank you for it.

Edited July 10, 200917 yr by Vickie
added some information

Hello to everyone in Ak. I hope to be back home in June or July, the army life has me and my family are in GA at this time. I am doing all the classes and stuff now for the lap band and hope to be haven my surgery in Oct. if it all works out.

Hello to everyone in Ak. I hope to be back home in June or July, the army life has me and my family are in GA at this time. I am doing all the classes and stuff now for the lap band and hope to be haven my surgery in Oct. if it all works out.

Greetings! Just had my surgery yesterday (8-25-09) & stayed over for a day. All went well. Good luck to you & welcome back! P.S. Dr. Searles did my surgery....

Greetings!! AS you can see, I'm writing from Corpus christi, Texas. I've had my band almost two years. Done well, with a few set backs and surgeries.... Anyway. It's possible I may be moving up there with my husband. He's applied and has had his first interview. It looks promising. Do you think either of these doctors would take a patient that's already had the surgery for fills? MANY doctors in the lower 48 won't. So I'm nervous about that. Moving up there makes me a little nervous anyway. Like moving to the moon for me. I've been there in the summer, but never the winter. Any help, encouragement, advice, pointers, etc. that you can give, I would be most appreciative of.

So I'm pretty sure this board won't get much traffic being that our population is pretty small compared to everyone elce...but,I just wanted to say hello!. My name is Pam and Im up at EIelson AFB. I have a surgery date of May 26 and heading down to Anchorage next week! Looking forward to hearing from anyone! lol

Hi pam, I am lisa. I see you are at the afb in alsaka. we are also air force. my hubby is going on a remote soon and our #1 over seas is elmandorf. anyway, I am not "banded" but my doctor just put in a refrual for me hopefully i will get it thes week. Sooo... because i know we will be moveing i was just looking at the area in alaska for a doctor. looks like there is only one. LOL... I love some town america. We were in Minot afb for about 4 years and just loved it. yes it is cold but waht a great place to raise a family. Any how I know nothing about this lapband. any info you have i would love. My email is rlmj_taylor@yahoo.com. I know i will forget so please if you reply put your name and the base you are at in the subject field. that will jog my memory LOL.....

thanks so much, Lisa..

Good luck and God bless

Hi all, I am new to this site but thought I would check it out since there doesn't seem to be to much communication on my Dr's site. I live in the Kenai Peninsula area of Alaska & there isn't a support group here for Bandsters.

I had surgery 12/12/08 & have been doing pretty good with everything. I have plateaued since July & had a fill the 28th of October but haven't seen any wt loss since. I am experiencing some heartburn/indigestion recently. I think that is what it is, I don't know. I thought I would do some research first. I had heartburn before I had surgery & then it instantly went away after surgery but for the past week I have noticed a weird feeling & I am doing a lot of purging since my last fill. It doesn't matter what I eat I get this feeling like it's heartburn. Has anyone else had this type of problem & if so what did you do?

Hi there,

Well, here goes. I am new to this site and I had my surgery on April 27, 2010 by Dr. Searles. Things have been going great. I have had no problems and am healing very well. I am going to start back to the gym on Tuesday, that will be two weeks post-op. So how long before you all got back into the weights? I am so afraid to get saggy. I feel great and am down 9 pounds since my surgery. Anyway just dropping in to say Hi.

Wow, this doesn't get much action, lol.

Ok, I am also new to the site and live on Ft. WW here in Alaska. I just got referred to Dr. Searles and am nervous as I don't know much about him. I was reading up in Dr. Todd and know of some people done by him so was surprised that is wasn't him. I am ok with it, just surprised. Been trying to find out how he is and what his process is. My appt is Oct. 20 for consult. I am nervous and excited.

Wow, this doesn't get much action, lol.

Ok, I am also new to the site and live on Ft. WW here in Alaska. I just got referred to Dr. Searles and am nervous as I don't know much about him. I was reading up in Dr. Todd and know of some people done by him so was surprised that is wasn't him. I am ok with it, just surprised. Been trying to find out how he is and what his process is. My appt is Oct. 20 for consult. I am nervous and excited.

Hello,

I too live in Ft.WW and I was referred to Dr. Searles. I just had an awesome experience with his staff and the process to get through all the tests that were preformed at FMH. I am very excited to have my surgery scheduled for Nov. 1st. The process only took me about 2 months after my initial consult with Dr. Searles. Try to schedule your psychological evaluation as soon as possible,, and get a nutrition consult soon also because those 2 appts take the longer time to complete. I completed these before my first appt with the doctor. FYI he is honest, sincere, and very informative. Nice too!!!